Architecture and Urbanism: "Architecture is a utilitarian art", by bonzopoe

Today we make a reflection based on a quote from Arch. José Dávila, some years ago, in CODIGO Magazine :

In this quote, Dávila brings to the table one of the unique and most interesting characteristics of architecture: that it is a utilitarian art. This characteristic by itself differentiates it from other fine arts, and poses a certain contradiction that it does not share with any other art, but with other design disciplines.

This contradiction has to do with the very essence of art, and it is an expression that does not pursue any use or utility, but simply pretends to exist as a reflection of who creates it and their personal context, which makes it an expression cultural of a time and place, but whose sole objective is expression for expression, enjoyment for enjoyment, pleasure for pleasure, beauty for beauty.

A work of art does not pursue a use, but rather to reflect its creator and reach the emotions of the viewer, which does not prevent that it can have a utility beyond its mere enjoyment, but not as a reason for existing, but as a secondary consequence .

The only art that pursues utility as part of its intrinsic nature is architecture, and this distinguishes it, but also marks it as different from the other arts. Architecture is also the omnipresent art, regardless of its quality, since we live in it. We are born in one building, we grow up in another, we study and work in others, and practically our entire lives are spent inside buildings, or exterior spaces designed by man. We are born, grow and die seeing and breathing architecture.

Possibly this characteristic contributes to our not always giving it value or being aware of it. And it is that unlike the other arts a work of architecture is made with an objective in mind, with a use in mind. A construction that has no use is not architecture, it is a sculpture. Unlike the other arts, architecture is not designed to satisfy the aesthetic needs of man, but to satisfy his need for space to be able to carry out all the activities of his existence, with the addition of doing it in an efficient way and aesthetics.

A characteristic of the utilitarian character of architecture is that it is changeable, it is dynamic, unlike the other arts. Except for those works of great historical and patrimonial value, architecture can change, and in fact it is desirable that it can, in order to be able to adapt efficiently to the ever-changing needs of its users over time.

Although this is not exclusive to architecture, since we have music, dance and theater, among others, that can change over time, "modernizing", these changes generate new versions of the original, which always remains as a reference, something that It does not happen with architecture, since the building is changing, probably never to be the same as before. A good architectural work has the ability to maintain its essence and value despite these changes, something that is not easy at all.

Architecture is an exciting discipline, both for its relevance in our daily lives and for its complexities. I hope that this reflection from the words of José Dávila allows you to understand this beautiful profession a little better, and the next time you see a work that you like, you will look at it with different eyes and you can better understand its merit and everything that lies behind it. Until next time.

Thank you very much for reading this post and dedicating a moment of your time. Until next time and remember to leave a comment.